Levis Commons Town Center is kicking off Independence Day festivities with a weekend of free, family-friendly entertainment.

The weekend will start off with a free concert by Crystal Bowersox, a Toledo native and former finalist on American Idol. The concert takes place on Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday morning, the shopping center will host the Run, White, and Blue 2.50 Mile Fun Run. The race starts at 8 a.m., and registration is at runsignup.com.

After the race, attendees can visit the third annual Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, guests can enjoy an interactive experience and meet superheroes.

The Levis Commons Town Center is located at 3201 Levis Commons Blvd. in Perrysburg.

Sewer repairs will close one of two eastbound lanes on a downtown block of Monroe Street on Wednesday, the Toledo Department of Transportation announced.

Monroe will be constricted between Huron and Superior streets for one day.

In South Toledo, meanwhile, resurfacing will close three streets both Wednesday and Thursday, officials said.

Charmaine Drive will be closed between Glendale Avenue and Schneider Road; Medford Drive will be closed between Beechway Boulevard and Beverly Drive, and Wilshire Avenue will be closed between Glanzman Road and Glencairn Avenue, all without posted detour routes.

The Toledo Public Schools Board of Education has authorized bus transportation and changes to the start times in the district for the 2027-28 school year.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Polly Taylor-Gerken said she’s glad students and parents know about the changes months prior to them taking effect.

“Getting this out there now allows families to know the schedules and make plans,” she said. 

The board passed the district’s Transformation 2.0 plan in April. In an effort to make up for a nearly $70 million budget deficit, the district has closed eight schools. In August, students will begin classes at their new schools.

The second part of the plan begins in 2027 with Rogers, Scott, Start, Waite, and Woodward high schools all becoming both magnet and traditional high schools. 

Transportation for all schools will be on a three-tiered system. Bell times will be adjusted and the district will maintain the one-mile walk zone. 

Under the plan approved Tuesday, all comprehensive and magnet high schools will be in school from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Elementary magnet schools will be in attendance from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Elementary schools in the Rogers, Start and Woodward learning communities will be in class from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Elementary students in the Bowsher, Waite and Scott learning communities as well as LEAP and Crossgates Early Childhood Education will be in school from 9:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. 

TPS Superintendent Romules Durant said the district has not had many complaints concerning the new bell times.

“This year the start times remain the same,” Mr. Durant said. “This starts in 2027 so it gives people some time to get used to the new schedules.

In other action Tuesday, Ryan Stechschulte, the district’s treasurer and chief financial officer, served at his last board meeting. In April, Mr. Stechschulte resigned which is effective July 1. 

“Thank you for the trust and support you have shown me,” he said. “It has been a privilege and an honor to serve with you.”

“It has been a pleasure working with you,” board member Bob Vasquez told him. “You are a man of integrity and you will be missed.”

Chris Varwig, TPS board president, said she appreciated Mr. Stechschulte’s willingness to sit down and talk with board members.

“You were willing to talk about and explain the financial outlook with us,” she said. “We were able to talk about the crazies down in Columbus and their impact on us. You left a positive impact on us.”

The board has picked Ryan Lockwood, treasurer of Springfield schools, as the district’s new treasurer. 

Mr. Lockwood is currently serving as the interim treasurer through July 31. He will then take over the position as treasurer beginning Aug. 1. His contract will run through July 31, 2028.

After weeks of debate over public safety and privacy concerns, Toledo City Council approved a one-year extension of the city’s contract with Flock Group Inc. on Tuesday.

The ordinance authorizes a one-year continuation of the Toledo Police Department’s use of Flock cameras. Council approved the measure 8-4.

Councilmen Erin Kramer, Theresa Gadus, Brittany Jones, and Nick Komives voted against the measure.

Other council members expressed their support for the cameras as tools for the police force.

“I am not in the mindset to take tools away from police that actually help our community,” Council President Vanice Williams said. “I am all about giving police what they need to do good work.”

Councilman George Sarantou also supported the extension.

“I think it’s a valuable tool,” he said. “Very few errors have occurred.”

Concerns about private companies handling public data deserve attention but should be addressed separately from police officer access to investigative tools, said Councilman Sam Melden.

“We need to govern that use separately,” he said.

Councilman Adam Martinez agreed with the distinction between issues of data privacy and the use of cameras as police tools.

However, Ms. Kramer said she remained concerned about the privacy implications of the technology.

“I support TPD in all that they do, but we do need to listen to the residents and look at what is happening across our country,” she said.

Ms. Kramer recalled public opposition from Monday’s public safety meeting and the multitude of emails she has received.

“It gives me pause when I hear from so many residents,” she said. “I have some real concerns.”

The council also unanimously approved an ordinance for a safety zone during the Fourth of July fireworks in Promenade Park.

The safety zone will be in effect from 6 p.m. July 4 through 6 a.m. July 5. It will also establish youth supervision requirements and enforcement provisions.

While Ms. Williams acknowledged that the safety zone ordinance is needed over the holiday, she also emphasized that it is not meant to exclude young people from public events.

“I hope that we can all understand that we are doing this so our residents can be safe when going out for events, but we are not being exclusive to our youth,” she said.

Mr. Martinez said the council’s work on the issue is far from finished.

“I want to ensure that there’s a working committee and more legislation coming,” he said.

Council also voted on two proposals for new gas stations.

A special-use permit that would have allowed gasoline and fuel sales at 1322 Bernath Pkwy. failed in an 11-1 vote.

Mr. Martinez, who voted against the permit, acknowledged the significant opposition from residents.

“There was a lot of community, I don’t want to say outrage, but they were not supportive of it,” he said.

Although the fuel sales permit was denied, council approved related legislation removing the property from an existing community unit plan and approving a zoning change.

Council did approve in a 9-3 vote a special-use permit for gasoline and fuel sales at 5305 and 5321 Monroe St. and 4700 Nantuckett Dr.

The proposal will allow a Sheetz development to move forward despite public concerns about traffic and neighborhood impact.

In other business, council unanimously approved legislation authorizing expenditures related to the city’s spent lime removal program.

Plant House-Toledo will offer a more organic form of networking with Friday’s Community Chill and Connect event.

Organizers said the community is invited to mingle after hours and meet local businesses.

Local vendors Kozy’s Sodys and Grit & Grace Coffee will be on site offering dirty sodas and coffees. 

The founder of Toledo Lokal, a new platform meant to connect and grow Toledo-area organizations, will share information and help business owners sign up for the network.

The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at 5934 Secor Rd. Find more information on the Plant House Facebook page.

Maumee school leaders said they can no longer depend on state funding to meet costs, and will go to voters for help.

“The funding that we were promised from the state legislature has not come,” said Allison Fiscus, president of the Maumee Board of Education. 

Schools across Ohio were promised state aid from the Fair School Funding Plan in 2021 but it’s not heavily enforced, Ms. Fiscus said.

“The Fair School Funding [Plan], which was passed a number of years ago, was meant to correct the ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court, that relying upon levy funds to fund schools is unconstitutional,” she said. 

Even though it was deemed unconstitutional, the Ohio Supreme Court waived its enforcement authority and “when we are promised money and it’s not delivered …that’s why we are before the voters,” Ms. Fiscus said. 

The Maumee Board of Education voted during a Monday meeting to put an earned income tax levy on the November ballot. 

The levy, which is 1.25 percent, would be for staff expenses, day-to-day operations for school buildings, and buses, among other services, Ms. Fiscus said. 

The board decided on an earned income levy instead of a property tax levy for the sake of senior residents in Maumee, she said. 

“We are doing everything in our power to not over tax our seniors who are on a fixed income,” Ms. Fiscus said. “This will not affect their retirements. It will not affect the money that they are getting from those funds.” 

Maumee Superintendent Steven Lee said the district has been looking at its financial forecast for the past year. 

Over time, the school district has reached a point “where our revenue is less than our expenditures,” he said. 

“That’s due to a variety of factors, one of the most significant being that we really only have three sources of funding — state funding, federal funding, and then local funding,” the superintendent said.

“State funding is not increasing with the rising costs of operations and inflation,” he said. “The state funding, which is called the Fair School Funding Plan, is only being funded at 66 percent of the 100 percent that they had planned to fund. … Without that state funding, we are then forced to rely more on local funding.” 

Mr. Lee added that property tax is not a stable funding option at the moment due to legislative reform interests in eliminating property tax. 

“That has become less of a stable funding option in recent years than it had been previously,” he said. 

The state’s “illegal” withholding of the full amount of money that was supposed to be distributed to school districts creates the need for the levy, Ms. Fiscus said. 

“That’s what causes local school districts to have to go back to their voters to ask for additional money,” she said. 

A judge denied bail Tuesday for an 18-year-old charged with attempted murder for a Feb. 23 shooting at Glass City Academy.

A Toledo Police Department detective said during the hearing in Lucas County Common Pleas Court that the conflict between Vashawn Dixon, 18, and Derrion Harper, 17, arose over a stolen gun.

He also said that while Mr. Dixon’s family initially cooperated with police efforts to locate him after the shooting, the suspect was not located until he turned himself in June 1.

In the ruling he issued Tuesday afternoon, Judge Goulding said the “excessively violent” nature of Mr. Dixon’s alleged close-range shooting of the victim, a prior case in which Mr. Dixon was charged as a juvenile with assault on a police officer, and the “significant delay” before he surrendered all warrant denial of bail.

“Clear and convincing evidence establishes that Defendant attempted to kill the alleged victim with a gun in a high school by firing several shots, several of which hit Defendant's intended target, and all of which could have hit numerous other students and staff,” the judge wrote.

Evidence establishing Mr. Dixon’s identity was sufficient for a bond hearing, he wrote, while the surrender delay demonstrated that no bond conditions could either ensure his appearance for court dates or protect Harper or the community in general.

“While his criminal record and family ties are entitled to some weight, the danger he poses to the alleged victim and to the community if released, even under conditions, is unacceptable,” Judge Goulding concluded.

Mr. Dixon is charged with first-degree attempted murder, four counts of second-degree felonious assault, second-degree firing a gun into a habitation or school safety zone, fourth-degree illegally carrying a concealed weapon, and fifth-degree transporting a deadly weapon into a school safety zone. The higher charges all carry gun and school safety zone specifications.

During the hearing, Detective Raymond Martin told the court Mr. Dixon had stolen a gun from another person and it was then stolen from him by Harper.

The gun’s previous owner spotted Mr. Dixon outside the building and warned Harper, the detective said.

The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. in a breezeway between the school’s main entrance and interior doors at a security checkpoint, he said, with Harper shot several times in the shoulders and back.

The detective said the clothing the shooter wore matched, except for a change of pants, what Mr. Dixon wore when he checked into the school earlier that day. Defense lawyer Joseph Westmeyer III pushed back, asking if the black Nike hoodie and yellow cellphone case seen in surveillance video of the shooting are so rare as to prove the gunman’s identity. The detective conceded that they are not.

Detective Martin further stated that cell phone evidence obtained through search warrants placed a phone belonging to Mr. Dixon at the shooting scene and that he used it to call for a Lyft rideshare that he took from nearby 1201 Jefferson Ave. to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he was again seen on surveillance video in the Nike hoodie.

The detective offered no explanation for why Mr. Dixon went to the hospital.

Mr. Dixon’s next scheduled court appearance is a pre-trial hearing at 1 p.m. July 8.

The Northwest Ohio Rib Off has a new home.

The annual festival held at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee since 2006 is being moved to Oak Shade Grove in Oregon, home of the German-American Festival.

Ben Krieger, GAF society president, said there are tentative plans to have the next Rib Off sometime in June, 2027, although he said that is more of an aspirational goal than a firm date.

The event, often held in late July at the fairgrounds, is on hiatus this summer.

“Something this large you can't just throw together in a couple of weeks or a couple of months,” Mr. Krieger said.

While savory, lip-smackin’ ribs will continue to be the main focus, the rebooted festival will have a fundamental shift away from national recording acts.

Instead, Mr. Krieger said, the emphasis will be on giving local musicians more exposure.

“Our plan is to somewhat downsize the Rib Off,” he said. “We kind of want to bring it back to what it was down by the river. We want to use local talent.”

He was referring to the Rib Off’s first 22 years in downtown Toledo, along the Maumee River in Promenade Park.

Both the incumbent Toledo mayor at the time, Jack Ford, and his replacement, challenger Carty Finkbeiner, tried during their respective 2005 campaigns to keep it downtown, according to an Oct. 8, 2005, Blade article.

But six days later, on Oct. 14, 2005, The Blade published an article that said the festival’s owner at the time, United Health Services, ended speculation by announcing the Rib Off would be moved out to the fairgrounds starting in the summer of 2006.

Ownership changed hands a couple of times before The Blade eventually acquired the event.

The GAF expressed interest when The Blade appeared willing to part with the event a couple of years ago. Talks became more serious last fall after the Rossford City Council rejected an acquisition proposal brought to it by Rossford Mayor Neil MacKinnon, Mr. Krieger said.

“We'll have it on our grounds and be the owner and operator of it,” he said. “We have such beautiful facilities. Why not have more events out here?”

Heather Pacheco, Blade associate director of events, said the sale was agreed upon last week.

Details were not disclosed by either party.

Ms. Pacheco said that a news article that said Rossford’s mayor was trying to get his council to buy the event for $130,000 in 2025 was accurate, as was the newspaper’s offer to provide $160,000 in advertising if the deal with that city had gone through.

“One thing I can say is our deal is a lot different than the Rossford deal,” Mr. Krieger said.

He said the GAF, for example, isn’t interested in as much advertising from the newspaper.

Ms. Pacheco said The Blade’s decision to sell the Rib Off “was not made lightly.”

“The Rib Off has been a valued community tradition for many years, but the event's landscape has changed significantly,” she said. “Rising insurance costs, increasing expenses associated with securing national entertainment acts, and the growing operational demands of producing large-scale festivals led us to conclude that it was the right time to transition ownership to an organization focused on continuing and growing the event for the community.”

She said there was interest from other potential buyers, including municipalities, community organizations, and businesses throughout the region.

“Out of respect for those discussions and the parties involved, we are not identifying specific organizations, businesses, or communities that expressed interest,” Ms. Pacheco said.

She said The Blade “takes great pride” in the role it had with the Rib Off.

“While we are saddened to conclude our ownership of the Rib Off, we do so with immense gratitude and pride for what the event has meant to the Toledo community over the years,” Ms. Pacheco said. “The Rib Off has always been more than a festival. It has been a place where families and friends gathered, memories were made, local businesses were supported, and our community came together to celebrate summer.”

She said it is “difficult to say good-bye,” but that the newspaper is “confident that this transition will allow the Rib Off to continue evolving and serving the community for years to come.”

“We sincerely thank everyone who supported the event throughout its history and look forward to seeing the Rib Off continue to thrive and create new memories under its new ownership.”

The Rib Off celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. It had a one-year break in service in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As more people and projects return to downtown Toledo, the two nonprofits helping guide its growth are drawing a clearer line between the work of managing downtown today and planning what it becomes tomorrow.

Under the updated structure, the Downtown Toledo Improvement District will focus on day-to-day operations, including cleanliness, safety, and downtown activation. ConnecToledo will focus more on long-term planning and projects.

The change also brings new leadership to the district. Karen Poore, a longtime public servant and downtown resident, has been named the district’s executive director.

Ms. Poore said the role felt like a natural fit after 35 years in public service, including work in county and municipal government as one of Toledo’s deputy mayors and as public safety director.

“I just have a passion for the city of Toledo,” Ms. Poore said. “I love it. It’s my home.”

Ms. Poore said she has watched the city’s core grow and wants to help continue that momentum.

“It’s just something that I’m so passionate about,” she said. 

Matt Rubin, chairman of the district’s board of directors, said the restructuring grew out of the district’s recent five-year renewal and expansion process, which included conversations with downtown property owners about the district’s direction.

Mr. Rubin said downtown was in a different place when the relationship between the district and ConnecToledo began nearly a decade ago, when major private-sector investment helped drive momentum. 

“Now that we’ve made further clarification on which group is going to focus on which activities, it’s going to allow us to work better and to be more effective,” he said.

Ms. Poore said the district’s work centers on creating and maintaining a downtown that is vibrant enough to draw people into the city and support its businesses.

Although Ms. Poore has been in the role for only two weeks, safety has already become an early priority. Even before the Old West End Festival shooting, The district hired off-duty Toledo police officers for Friday and Saturday nights to help keep more exuberant bar-goers in check.

She said the district also will work to make its ambassadors more visible as they help with cleanup, safety, and assistance for visitors and businesses during the day.

For ConnecToledo, the shift means a stronger focus on long-term development, said Christine Michaels, the organization’s president and CEO.

Ms. Michaels said ConnecToledo will work on the downtown master plan, visioning for specific blocks and buildings, and helping assemble funding for development projects. She said the timing makes sense because of the amount of activity happening downtown.

“We feel like the time is really ripe for development here,” Ms. Michaels said.

Although the organizations will have separate roles, Ms. Michaels said the district’s work remains essential to ConnecToledo’s mission.

“If we don’t have a really active and vibrant and clean and safe downtown, it’s very hard to sell that to a developer,” she said.

Ms. Poore said her early priorities include meeting with downtown stakeholders and sharpening the district’s plans and policies.

“We want our restaurants busy during lunchtime,” she said. “We want to cross-promote events downtown and we want to work really closely with all of our stakeholders.”

One of two men convicted of the fatal shooting outside an after-hours club that killed a popular South Toledo waitress received a life sentence with parole possible after 25 years from a Lucas County judge Tuesday morning.

Marvin Pettaway, 19, had pleaded guilty to murder and three counts of felonious assault last month for the Nov. 2 death of Jasmine Queen, 19, and injuries to three other people near the Weekend club at Reynolds Road and Hill Avenue.

While saying the sentence reflected the loss of life, “the wounds both physical and psychological on the other victims,” and the need to protect the community, Common Pleas Judge Lindsay Navarre gave Pettaway less than the potential maximum for his convictions. She handed down concurrent seven-year terms for the felonious assault counts instead of a potential 24-year maximum.

“What occurred here cannot be explained away as a youthful indiscretion,” Judge Navarre said after remarking how “struck” she was by Pettaway’s youthfulness.

Pettaway, of the 1100 block of North Holland-Sylvania Road, admitted using a Mini Draco pistol that uses “devastating rifle-caliber” ammunition and “chose to shoot into a parking lot full of humanity,” the judge said.

The resulting death and injury was a “natural and foreseeable result of the decision to fire over and over,” Judge Navarre said.

Police recovered 21 shell casings for rifle ammunition in the parking lot and five more found near the end of a neighboring dead-end street where a Jeep attempting to flee the gunfire mistakenly turned toward where Pettaway and co-defendant Marshaun Purley were fleeing from the initial shooting. Pettaway fired those shots, hitting the Jeep and wounding one of its occupants.

No motive for the shootings was presented during Purley’s jury trial two weeks ago, but Brooklyn Cobian, who unwittingly allowed her car to be used for the two men to travel to and from the scene, said Pettaway seemed angry before the incident.

Pettaway’s sentence included a statutory life in prison for the murder conviction, with parole eligibility pushed back from 15 years to 18 because of a gun specification and then to 25 because of the felonious assault time. He received credit for 202 days already served.

Miss Queen had worked at Doc Watson’s, a popular South Toledo bar and restaurant, since age 14 and had become its unofficial head waitress. She had gone to the after-hours club, where a Halloween party was held, after work.

In a statement read to the court by Ian English II, a victim representative, her mother, Leslie Queen, wrote that her daughter had aspired to go to college and study nursing,

“Because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was an innocent victim, our sense of safety in the community is shattered,” Leslie Queen wrote. “We fear for our other loved ones and no longer feel secure in places we once trusted.”

Pettaway apologized to his victims and their families for a situation that “could have been easily avoided” and pledged to “do something different with my life” while imprisoned.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Crowther argued that by sentencing his client to less than the maximum, the judge would offer Pettaway “a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel” to motivate him to “earn his way out” of prison.

“I think that’s the perfect place to land,” he said afterward of the 25-to-life sentence. “He admitted his guilt ... but this was an ambush.”

Judge Navarre said the shootings showed “extraordinary disregard for human life” and that Pettaway “treated every person in that crowd as collateral damage.”

Pettaway entered his pleas May 13. Purley was convicted by the jury June 12 of aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, and other charges in the case and faces a possible sentence of life without parole when he next appears before Judge Navarre on June 30.

Cobian, who accompanied the pair during their travels to several parties on the night of the shootings but remained in her car as a passenger, is scheduled for sentencing July 1 for misdemeanor obstructing official business for initially lying to police. She testified against Purley during his trial.

MONROE — Electric and hybrid vehicles will be the focus of a new curriculum push at Monroe County Community College. 

“It is a slew of courses, but the first one is going to be offered this fall,” said Parmeshwar Coomar, dean of the applied sciences and engineering technology division at the school. 

It is part of the Automotive Service Technology program already offered by the college. The new course, Introduction to Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, is three credits and can be taken as an elective for students who have taken other classes in the department. 

“Monroe County Community College has been working closely with Schoolcraft College as well as Washtenaw Community College on this journey and creating programs for EV and hybrid technologies,” said Drew Coleman, senior director at MichAuto, a Detroit-based automotive association.

The organization aims to “promote, retain, and grow Michigan’s signature industry,” according to its website. Mr. Coleman said it also works with college partners around the state to see that they are delivering students what employers in the auto industry need.

One way it does this is through funding, which can be put toward the development of curriculum, like the EV and hybrid program in Monroe. Mr. Coleman declined to share how much funding MichAuto is giving to the program but did say the funding comes from philanthropic organizations via the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative as well as some state and federal sources.   

“We see this as kind of twofold: New students coming out of these programs should have these future skills, but also individuals that have been technicians for years need these kinds of upskilling opportunities as well,” Mr. Coleman said.  

Mr. Coomar said the new plan of coursework is based on a desire to prepare students for what the future might hold in the auto industry. 

“We are taking some proactive steps despite the lack of support of the current government with subsidies and other things,” the dean said. “We think, and the broader automotive community in Michigan thinks, as well as the rest of the world, that this is going to be making a comeback. Just because it is very cost effective eventually with economies of scale and with charging stations.” 

Mr. Coomar describes the batteries that power EVs as simple devices that people should give a chance to.

“On your daily commute ... nothing can be better than an EV,” he said. “It is more environmentally friendly.” 

Future courses could revolve around things like battery management and troubleshooting, Mr. Coomar said.

The initial course was approved in April, so it’s still filling up, and class sizes may be smaller at first, the dean said. But he anticipates growth.

The course will also cover the history and evolution of electric and hybrid vehicles, electric vehicle range calculations and energy consumption analysis, and battery charging systems and charging infrastructure.

“We are expecting it to be an integral part of the auto service program,” Mr. Coomar said. “Within a couple of years, you will see that.”

Eyes on safety

The electric and hybrid vehicles course will also emphasize just how much electricity EVs contain compared to other cars, the dean said. Safety as a technician working on these cars will then play a big role in the curriculum. 

Chuck Sanecki, the lab technician for the Monroe automotive program, said this emphasis on safety will be shown in the equipment being used in the class. 

“It starts right at your hands,” Mr. Sanecki said. “The hand tools, the sockets, the screwdrivers actually have extra levels of insulation on them.” 

Car dealers local to Monroe and even including Toledo-area dealers like Taylor Kia, provide materials for the auto services program, the lab tech said. That will continue to be true as the EV program grows, he said.

Meanwhile, cars like the Chevy Bolt and Chevy Volt, which the school already owns, will also be used during the class, Mr. Sanecki said, adding that it is good to get exposure to many makes and models. 

“Certain safety protocols are going to be universal across all lines,” Mr. Sanecki said, citing the example of orange cables always being used for high-voltage wires. “But like anything else with patents, every manufacturer is going to have their own little quirk.”

The program is all about giving students a more specialized knowledge base to succeed in their careers.

Mr. Coleman said the jobs created through a program like Monroe’s are valuable and in demand.  

“They pay a livable wage, they are attainable. ... AI is not going to replace an automotive technician,” Mr. Coleman said. “They are secure roles that we think can provide a really great opportunity for Michiganders.” 

Goodwill of Northwest Ohio and Davis University will host a free career and community resource fair on Thursday in downtown Toledo.

The event is open to the public and designed for job seekers, students, families, and community members looking to connect with employment opportunities, education programs, work force training, and support services, organizers said.

Attendees will have access to employers, career-training providers, and organizations that offer resources related to housing, food access, financial literacy, transportation, and wellness.

Participants are encouraged to dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes, if applicable. Resume assistance may also be available.

The fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at 200 N. St. Clair St.

Oregon is the latest area community to impose a moratorium on applications for the installation of new tobacco and vapor store facilities.

Oregon City Council has passed a resolution in favor of a 270-day suspension of new tobacco and vapor shops.

Steven Shrake, the city’s building and zoning commissioner, said he requested the resolution after individuals and companies recently inquired about installing new vape shops in various areas of the city.

“This was a use that was not historically anticipated in Oregon’s zoning code,” Mr. Shrake said. “There has been a proliferation of these types of facilities that have opened up.”

There is a total of nine vape facilities in Oregon — six on Navarre Avenue and three on Woodville Road. 

“The six shops along Navarre Avenue are within a distance that is just over half a mile. The three shops along Woodville are also just over half a mile [apart],” Mr. Shrake said. “For a city the size of Oregon, having that many tobacco and vape stores in such a compressed area, we felt it was necessary for us to further review the impact and see if it’s necessary to have regulatory options for any future tobacco and vape store facilities.”

Among possible courses of action are spacing requirements between new facilities and buffering between schools, day-care centers, and other locations where children would gather, Mr. Shrake said. 

“Most of what we’re talking about are the standalone facilities that only sell vape and tobacco,” he said, not convenience stores and carryouts.

Councilman Kathy Pollauf said she understands why a moratorium is needed because of health concerns of vape products.

“A lot of them have been shown to be subpar and dangerous,” Ms. Pollauf said.

Maumee is another community that has passed ordinances restricting vape shops. Council in 2023 passed an 18-month moratorium on new vape facilities, then approved an ordinance restricting their use once the moratorium expired.

Rich Carr, who was mayor at the time, said the regulations were meant to reduce the number of new vaping and marijuana facilities, particularly along Conant Street, the main drag in Maumee’s uptown business district. 

“The state didn’t have any regulations in place,” Mr. Carr said. 

He said he didn’t want the city to turn into a location like Laplaisance Road in Monroe, a major retail hub famous for its high concentration of vape shops and recreational cannabis dispensaries.

“There used to be outlet malls there, but now there’s vape shops and marijuana sales all over the place. There’s easily 10 to 12 of them,” Mr. Carr said. “Maumee is an older town, and I didn’t want to see these kinds of shops, so we looked at putting restrictions in, like having to be so many miles apart so we didn’t turn out to be like Laplaisance Road.”

The restrictions on new tobacco and vape shops in Maumee include 2-mile buffers between stores and limitations on their proximity to a school, child-care facility, youth center, community center, recreational facility, park, church or religious institution, hospital, or other similar uses where children regularly gather, according to the city’s zoning ordinance.

In 2025, Bowling Green passed similar restrictions following a six-month moratorium on vape shops. The restrictions include a one-mile buffer between existing vape shops and any new vape facilities. 

State laws prohibit sales to minors, ban vaping in indoor public spaces, and mandate special retail licensing.

Toledo, Columbus, and Cincinnati enforce their own local bans on flavored tobacco and vaping products. A conflict over municipal home rule authority with these cities is currently being decided by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Concerns about public safety arose on Monday as Toledo City Council’s Public Safety Committee considered a contract extension with Flock Group Inc. for portable automatic license plate readers.

The proposed ordinance would amend Toledo's existing agreement with Flock for a one-year extension for the operation of portable license plate readers through the Toledo Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center.

Support came primarily from Toledo police officials, prosecutors, and Flock representatives, who argued the technology has become an essential tool for investigations.

Deputy Chief Kevin Braun told council that Flock technology has assisted in investigations of all sorts of crimes.

“Just about every felony case has used Flock in one way or another,” he said. “I can't overstate how useful it is.”

Maggie Koch, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said the cameras have become an important source of evidence in criminal cases.

“I cannot stand in front of a jury of our community and say, ‘Find this individual guilty because I said so,’” she said. “There has to be evidence, and Flock cameras have assisted us.”

Council presented substantial questions to Flock representatives in attendance.

Councilman Theresa Gadus cited reports from Washington state that examined how outside agencies accessed license plate reader data.

“How can the city of Toledo ensure that that doesn’t happen here?” she asked.

Trevor Chandler, senior director of public affairs of Flock, said the company does not own data collected by local agencies.

“Every city has control over what they share and who they share it with,” he said.

Addressing concerns raised by Ms. Gadus regarding the handling of sensitive information, Mr. Chandler said data is permanently deleted once retention periods expire.

“Once that data is deleted, it is hard deleted off of all of the servers,” he said. 

Ms. Gadus also raised concerns about reports from other jurisdictions involving searches related to immigration and reproductive health.

Mr. Braun said Toledo has enabled filters that block both immigration and reproductive health searches.

Councilman Erin Kramer asked about oversight mechanisms designed to prevent misuse of the system.

Mr. Chandler emphasized the security measures that Flock has put into place.

“We are every month putting in additional features,” he said. “We’re working to make it easier to identify patterns and potential misuse.”

He said improper use of Flock has only occurred in isolated cases.

“There have been publicly reported maybe two dozen examples of misuse,” Mr.  Chandler said. “We have around 100,000-plus users of Flock per month.”

Councilman George Sarantou expressed support of the system, echoing that reported misuse cases represent a small fraction of its overall use.

“Only two dozen cases out of at least one billion,” he said

Public commentary during the meeting was extensive, with a majority of individuals opposed to the technology because of risks to privacy and civil liberties.

Susan Kuehn, co-chair of the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, said the cameras are an offense to First Amendment rights.

“Flock cameras have been used and will be used against activists simply exercising their right of free speech,” she said.

Tom Pruss, Libertarian candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, described the issue as a choice between expanded government surveillance and individual privacy protections.

“This is a discussion of the relationship between citizens and government,” he said. “Mass surveillance treats every citizen as a potential suspect.”

Rebecca Bundy, a Toledo attorney, urged council members to consider how surveillance technologies unequally affect minority residents.

“Safety depends very much on who is the watcher and who is the watched,” she said. “So I ask this council again to stand up for members of our community who are most vulnerable.”

Council is expected to vote on the contract Tuesday, following the defeat of a two-year extension proposal last week.

A judge has ruled in favor of a Maumee property owner’s claim that the city improperly canceled an Illinois Avenue building’s nonconforming use under local zoning code.

Judge Ken Walz ruled in Lucas County Common Pleas Court that the commercial building at 318 Illinois Ave. remained vacant for more than nine months “involuntarily,” and thus such use had not been legally abandoned by Bowling Green owner RPM Commercial LLC.

But the judge’s summary-judgment order denied RPM’s contention that the city should start a formal condemnation proceeding consistent with its having effectively taken the structure by denying a new zoning permit unless expensive modifications were made.

Andrew Mayle, a Perrysburg-based lawyer representing RPM, said that is the one issue for which the property owner is weighing its options following Judge Walz’s June 12 ruling.

Mr. Mayle estimated RPM’s lost rentals at “into the six figures” for the time the building has remained vacant since Landmark Pools and Spas moved out in 2022.

“Our client hopes to find a new tenant soon and expects the city to comply with Ohio law,” Mr. Mayle said.

“We are pleased that the court invalidated Maumee’s unlawful ordinances and its misconduct under those ordinances,” the lawyer said Monday. “...This was bad local government all around, and so we are happy to set favorable precedent for other businesses.”

“The city is currently reviewing the matter with legal counsel,” spokesman Nancy Gagnet said. “Once that evaluation is complete, we will determine appropriate next steps.”

Among the city’s contentions in court was that RPM never actually applied for a zoning permit or certificate of occupancy for a new tenant.

But RPM argued that Maumee officials had stated plainly that no such authorization would occur until the property owner complied with a list of improvements to the building that reached 22 items and cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Judge Walz agreed that a letter the city sent to RPM on Oct. 5, 2023, constituted a decision on the building’s future use even though no permit application was filed.

That letter and follow-up communications “created a concrete injury for declaratory purposes by impairing RPM’s claimed lawful nonconforming rights,” the judge wrote, “and restricting or creating uncertainty concerning RPM’s ability to lease, reoccupy, or seek permits for the property without current-code compliance.”

COLUMBUS — The Van Wert Historical Society’s capital improvement campaign received a significant boost in the state capital budget.

Senate Bill 450, recently signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, includes $400,000 for the Van Wert County Research and Genealogy Center. 

State Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R., Haviland) said while he’s excited about all of the community projects that received funding in his district, he is particularly happy about the support for the history center.

“This 4,900-square-foot state-of-the-art building will safeguard the nationally recognized Faces of Little Bighorn collection that includes 80 original works of art and accompanying oral histories from Lakota Sioux survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn gathered by Van Wert’s own native artist and historian David Humphreys Miller in the 1930s and 1940s,” Mr. Klopfenstein said. 

“More than just a replacement for the existing welcome center, the new facility will expand exhibition opportunities, strengthen genealogy research, host public programs, and protect priceless artifacts for generations to come,” Mr. Klopfenstein continued. “Its thoughtful design reflects a commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and educational programming, reinforcing Ohio’s dedication to preserving its cultural ties to American Western history and Native American narratives.”

Theresa Mengerink, president of the Van Wert Historical Society, said the new center will include a local history and genealogy library, special exhibit rooms, and a large activity room. 

“Preserving and supporting the history of Van Wert County is far more than a few items in a museum; it is an essential investment in our community’s identity and future,” Ms. Mengerink said.

“Our local history — captured in artifacts, archival documents, buildings, and oral accounts — tells the story of who we are, where we came from, and the values and sacrifices that built Van Wert County,” she continued. “By safeguarding this legacy, the Van Wert County Historical Society ensures that the grit of early settlers, the innovations of local businesses, and the personal journeys of generations past are not lost to time.” 

The history center is one of many community projects in Van Wert County and across northwest Ohio that received funding. Lucas County received $5.7 million in new money and at least $1.5 million in redirected funding, while Wood County received $2.1 million for community projects.

Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R., Napoleon) said his district — which includes Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Fulton, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, and Williams counties — received nearly $10 million for community projects.

“This funding makes a difference that people will notice here at home in the 1st District,” Mr. McColley said. “I’m pleased that our parks, fairgrounds, and recreational areas will continue to be destination places for our neighbors and families.”

Ohio Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke (R., Tiffin) said capital budget projects are required to meet strict guidelines to even receive consideration for funding.

“Congratulations to the communities and plans that were approved because they represent important community improvements that people around the district will notice and use,” Mr. Reineke said. 

Other capital budget projects approved in northwest Ohio include the following:

Defiance County

● $575,000 for the Moats Park expansion.

● $315,768 for Veteran’s Memorial Park at Latty’s Grove.

● $387,900 for playground equipment at Hicksville Park.

Erie County

● $1 million for the Sandusky State Theatre restoration.

● $300,000 for Kelleys Island Community Park improvements.

● $200,000 for Sandusky Lions Park improvements. 

Fulton County

● $461,125 for Legacy Center recreation improvements.

● $230,000 for the Wabash Cannonball Trail project.

Hancock County

● $1.2 million for the Findlay Defense Incubator.

● $300,000 for the Hancock Park District pond improvement project.

● $255,000 for Jenera Arlington Park safety and connectivity.

● $250,000 for the Findlay greenspace improvement project.

● $220,000 for the McComb Cloe Greiner Park Amphitheater.

● $210,500 for Mt. Blanchard Community Pool improvements.

Hardin County

● $750,000 for the Hardin County Fairgrounds 4-H livestock project.

● $220,000 for the Historic Adad Railroad Depot rehabilitation.

Henry County

● $500,000 for the Northwest State Workforce Development Center.

● $192,100 for Henry County Hamler Memorial Park.

● $156,500 for the Historic Ranzau Blacksmith Shop.

● $124,312 for the Deshler Community Recreation Center. 

Huron County

● $600,000 for the Norwalk Theatre restoration.

● $200,000 for the Artists’ Open Studio community arts facility.

Ottawa County

● $450,000 for Port Clinton Waterworks Park improvements.

● $250,000 for the Genoa Civic Theatre improvement project.

● $200,000 for the Ottawa County Fairgrounds safety and energy project. 

Paulding County

● $121,193 for Paulding County Fairgrounds restroom improvements.

Putnam County

● $362,5000 for the Deters Park expansion project.

● $301,600 for Ottawa Memorial Park.

● $240,000 for the YMCA of Putnam County recreation project.

Sandusky County

● $530,000 for Sandusky County Fairgrounds infrastructure.

● $500,000 for the Gibsonburg flood mitigation project.

● $110,000 for the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library project. 

Seneca County

● $160,000 for the Ritz Theatre.

● $100,000 for the Attica Waterfront walking path.

Van Wert County

● $250,000 for the Stadium Park Shelter House.

● $250,000 for the YWCA of Van Wert County facility and clinic.

● $100,000 for the Van Wert Civic Theatre project. 

Williams County

● $472,500 for the Pioneer Clear Fork Nature Trail.

● $350,000 for Edgerton River Park.

● $200,000 for the Montpelier Community Aquatic Center.

Housing affects nearly every aspect of one’s daily life — but for many Toledoans, stable and affordable homes still remain far out of reach.

“Our ability to develop affordable housing is getting left behind, and it’s really starting to affect our community,” said George Thomas, CEO of the Fair Housing Center. “We need leadership in this space to really move the needle to change things.”

As a housing crisis persists across the region, nonprofit leaders and policy experts gathered Monday at a Rotary Club of Toledo panel discussion, the Place We Call Home, to examine statewide trends, ongoing challenges, and potential solutions.

Matt Klesta, senior policy analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, presented data-driven insights Monday highlighting Lucas County’s declining vacancy rates, rising home prices, and growing share of out-of-state investor ownership.

“We can see renters are about 50 percent cost-burdened,” Mr. Klesta said, noting that shrinking vacancy rates are contributing to higher rents and home values in Toledo.

Mr. Klesta added that home prices and rents in Lucas County are rising faster than the national average. Over the period he examined, home prices in the county increased about 39 percent, while incomes rose roughly 13 percent.

The trend may be linked in part to increased out-of-state investor activity, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods.

“I was thinking maybe there were people coming across the border from Michigan that are investing in the Toledo market,” Mr. Klesta said of the out-of-state developers. “But it’s been California, New York, Florida.”

While many view affordable housing as primarily a low-income issue, moderator Kendra Smith said the shortage affects a much broader range of residents, from recent college graduates to families seeking to purchase their first home.

“Oftentimes it’s assumed that it’s for the lowest-income individuals,” Ms. Smith said. “But it really impacts everybody.”

Though Toledo has been praised for its affordable housing market relative to other U.S. cities, Erin McPartland, CEO of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, said rising prices still make homeownership inaccessible to many mid-income households.

“The families that are calling us, their incomes range from $50,000 to $70,000 a year,” Ms. McPartland said. “The average home was being sold at $200,000. And for families who are making $65,000 a year, that is just out of reach.”

Panelists emphasized that while the challenges are significant, coordinated local action could still shape the region’s housing future. The solution, Ms. McPartland said, lies in a blend of financial relief, policy reform, and supply expansion and revitalization.

David Mann, the president and CEO of Lucas County Land Bank, highlighted the need for the local government to establish a dedicated housing fund — a public reserve earmarked specifically for affordable housing development, preservation, and services.

“Construction costs have outpaced what it means to be affordable for those who live here,” Mr. Mann said. “Right now, we are all doing as much as we possibly can. It’s just not enough yet.”

Mr. Mann said the fund, which many communities across Ohio have established, could be made possible by public and public sector revenues, as well as philanthropic support.

“Dedicated housing funds could help support housing providers, including the private sector, to create new single-family and multifamily units in a way that can help us meet the scale of the need,” he said.

Mr. Thomas said local policymakers must collaborate with community leaders to address the crisis.

“Sadly, I don't think we’re going to see a lot of leadership at the federal or the state level,” he said. “It is up to our local government, the people on the stage, and perhaps more importantly, the people out here, to solve this.

He agreed that a dedicated housing fund, also known as a housing trust fund, would be a strong starting point for Toledo.

Attendees and panelists alike echoed the importance of continued community partnership.

“It's encouraging to see how much community engagement and partnership building is already in place,” Rotary member Phil Mariasy said. “Reaching people who would benefit from these services, programs, and opportunities remains a work in progress.”

Mr. Mariasy added that discussions on housing help create stronger neighborhoods that lead to stronger businesses, which, in turn, generate neighborhood pride that could help lower crime rates.  

Ms. McPartland said that even for individuals with secure homes, helping increase access to safe, affordable housing can improve health, education, and long-term opportunities, thereby benefiting everyone in the community.

“You can take home for granted,” Ms. McPartland said. “But when everybody can thrive, our entire community can thrive.” 

Resurfacing will close part of Richards Road for three days, starting Tuesday, the Toledo Department of Transportation announced.

The work is planned between Overlook Boulevard and Dorchester Drive, with traffic detoured via Hill Avenue, Byrne Road, and Dorr Street.

Separately, Angola Road’s westbound lane will be closed between Airport Highway and Acton Drive for pavement restoration after utility work.

The Angola closing will start Tuesday morning and end in two days, officials said, while traffic will be detoured via Airport and Reynolds Road.

A circuit-breaker problem caused an extended power outage overnight in parts of South Toledo and Maumee along with neighboring areas, a FirstEnergy spokesman said.

The problem arose about 1 a.m. Monday and affected about 10,000 customers, according to the utility’s outage map. Power had been restored for most by about 7:45 a.m., and spokesman Brooke Conlan said all had their electricity back by about 9:30 a.m.

The outage was caused by a faulty circuit breaker on a high-voltage transmission line serving the affected area, the spokesman said.

The outage affected the Beverly and River Road areas of South Toledo, most of Maumee, and adjoining areas in Waterville and Monclova townships.

A 29-year-old man was injured after he was shot multiple times in central Toledo.

Just after midnight Sunday morning, police were sent to the 1600 block of Norwood Avenue to investigate a ShotSpotter alert. Before they arrived, they received additional information indicating a man had been shot inside a home in that block.

Responding crews found the man inside the residence. He was taken to ProMedica Toledo Hospital.